Ribbons Unbound: My Fiancé's Lingering Regret novel Chapter 2

The bedroom door closed decisively before he could identify the bitter feeling rising in his chest.

Seven more days, Ethan Ferrers. Then I won't be waiting anymore.

As I expected, Ethan didn't return that night, but feeling the cold emptiness on his side of the bed still made my heart sink.

A persistent knocking at my door grew increasingly louder.

I opened it to find one of the Ferrers' housekeepers looking at me with undisguised contempt.

"Mrs. Ferrers says to bring the boy to the Ferrers estate," she said curtly.

Ethan's mother had never approved of me.

No matter how I tried to explain our handfasting ceremony—she saw me as nothing but a loose woman living with her grandson without a proper marriage license.

Then her disapproval extended to my son as well.

With such attitudes from the matriarch, the household staff naturally followed suit.

When we arrived at the grand Ferrers estate, I was surprised to find the entire Ferrers family gathered.

Ethan, who had disappeared for the night, stood beside Victoria, supporting her with tender attentiveness in his eyes.

Mrs. Ferrers beamed at Victoria, her face practically glowing with joy:

"Victoria is finally pregnant! Now that all family members are present, it's time to fulfill the promise made six months ago!"

The most respected elder of the family stepped forward and publicly announced Ethan's position as the Ferrers family heir.

"Now that the Ferrers family has secured its future, let's set a date for the wedding."

I looked up to see everyone's eyes on Victoria—including Ethan's.

He caressed Victoria's stomach intimately, his expression gentle: "I'm going to be a father."

Not "I'm going to be a father again," but "I'm going to be a father."

My heart clenched with bitterness, unconsciously tightening my grip until my son's small voice broke through the hall: "Mom, that hurts."

I quickly released his hand, noticing the redness spreading across his tiny fingers.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart.... are you okay?"

My son's words drew everyone's attention.

The elder frowned.

"If word gets out that the Ferrers heir fathered a child without being married, it'll be a PR nightmare for the family."

"Give it to me!"

"Ethan, is this what you mean?"

I caught sight of the unmistakable hickey on Victoria's neck as she lifted her chin, sending a sharp wave of pain through my chest that took my breath away.

That emerald pendant, which we both fell in love with at the Westbrook Luxury Auction where we first met, was our love token.

On the day of our handfasting ceremony, Ethan personally wove the ribbon that bound our hands together, then placed the emerald pendant around my neck.

With our hands intertwined beneath the Celtic knots of the sacred ribbons, he promised me forever.

I knew Victoria had admired it, asking Ethan for it multiple times, but he had always refused.

Now, however, he averted his gaze, his eyes filled with hesitation and guilt.

"Maybe you could—"

"Fine," I cut him off with a bitter laugh, yanking the pendant from my neck and placing it in Victoria's hand.

Watching Victoria gleefully put it on, I remarked with hollow admiration: "Perfect match."

Then, under Ethan's astonished gaze, I carried my son out of the house.